Going Gray, Hair Care for a Silver Fox

More women today embrace their own sense of themselves when they allow their hair to become their natural gray color.
Courtney Hale | Canva

Gray Can Be Gorgeous

More women are discovering that allowing their hair to grow into natural gray is liberating. As one professional model, Maye Musk, put it, “Why didn’t I do this 10 years ago?” When the decision is made, update your hair care regimen with these tips, styles, and products.

No, it isn’t for every woman,, but the ranks of those who choose freedom from chemical color and the tyranny of monthly touch-ups are growing! A new found confidence can come from those natural silver tones free from hair color chemicals.

Is the Silver Fox look for you?

Highlight the Silvery Properties of your Gray Hair With Mild Silver Shampoo

Vo5 Conditioning Hairdress Gray/White/Silver (3 Pack) VO5 is tried and true and one of my personal favorites for moisturizing, giving sheen, and taming fly-aways. I used regular VO5 when I colored my hair, (better than “hair polishes”) and then switched to the silver haired version. It is a quick way to shine up your strands while adding a silvery glow.

I now have longer length locks and the Alberto VO5 creme with blue tint holds my hair in place to reduce flyaways as well as give shine.

Salt and Pepper Hair Style

Good-Bye Yellow

Internally, stress is one of the greatest enemies to your overall health, including your hair’s health. Too much sun, vitamin deficiencies, illness are all on the list, but did you know that chemical dyes are too?

• Shampoos that are harsh will make your hair feel dry, frizzy, and dull.
• Using a yellowish-tinged shampoo or conditioner rather than a clear one may leave an offcast on your hair.
• Smoking or sitting in a smoke-filled environment can lead to a yellowish cast also, which is very hard to remove.
• Water with lots of iron content can stain the hair.
• Chlorine in water reacts with sunlight to give a yellow tinge.
• Oil buildup from your scalp can also cause discoloration.

You can counteract these effects by installing a filter on your shower, using hair products formulated for gray hair, and using a clarifying shampoo. Remember that gray hair care includes taking care of your general health, as well.

A great look for salt and pepper mixture is this sleek ‘do. Serum will give you that silky smooth look. Very professional for worktime, but easy to keep for casual times. A sparkly barrette is all that is needed for special holiday occasions.

Shampoo Tip

One tip for those who want to use brightening products: I switch out these for clarifying and non-color changing shampoos regularly. One of my favorites for in between is Paul Mitchell’s Wild Ginger line. The fragrance and shine are amazing.

Use yellow-canceling shampoo products when sun and surf time can stress your hair.
Source

My Transition to Gray Hair Freedom

What is it like to change from covering gray to going natural with silvery strands? I thought I would create a timeline of sorts with the most asked questions from acquaintances. These are things I wondered about myself, before taking the big step.

Going Gray, Hair Color F.A.Q.

• What was the tipping point in making a decision to go “natural?”I felt for a long time that the look of a face and neck of a 50 or 60 something and the hair of a twenty-something is out of sync. I made the decision that when that disconnect seemed to be approaching I would stop coloring my hair. Happily, this decision coincided with the appearance of many attractive and influential women in the beauty world who also decided to “go gray.” Those women and my own experience inspired this page.I thought, “I am sure there are lots more women who want this look and just need a little encouragement.”
• Was it hard to transition from the colored hair to natural? No, I just let the hair grow, and scheduled haircuts to keep the style and shape. A fresh haircut helps avoid that awkward “halfway point”. I won’t lie: there has been a bit of humble pie and some attitude adjustment on my part to growing older. I have had both supportive and admiring comments, but then there was the time when a kid behind me in the grocery line phoned his mom that he was “standing behind the old lady”. A lovely comment from a group of unknown bystanders in another grocery store (do people in grocery stores have more time to people watch?) who thought my hair was “gorgeous” made up for the shock of the other comment, however!
• What are the best tips for having beautiful gray hair?I have included the top tips in this article. The products are those I and my readers have found the best for our silver hair. Information on caring for the qualities of maturing gray locks included under a number of the topics covered: the right shampoos, conditioners, and styling methods.

Shine for the Silver Fox Look

Long locks are possible, but make sure to keep them healthy and shiny

Dorty Yauslin

Maye Musk, Beauty Role Model

Maye Musk is a top model who makes aging look great with her silver white hair and sophisticated style.

She is gracious about sharing her secrets, too. Samples of her beauty advice are generously given in an article titled “Looking Great”, taken from her book where she shares wardrobe, weight, and beauty tips.

Short cut with long top layers. This is my favorite short hairstyle. The crown hair is kept long and angled toward the chin.

5 Beauty Tips

1. Be sure to include plenty of B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids in your diet
2. Going gray may require a warmer color palette for your makeup. Try a warmer blush or lipstick color.
3. It can’t be said enough: Keep it moisturized and in good condition to keep it great looking.
4. Occasional color correction with a blue-tinted hair product to cancel yellowing
5. Give a gloss with smoothing those frizzies:Even though you want to go easy on heat appliances, straightening gray hair can add some glitz to your look. Gray hair reflects light, which is highlighted by keeping it smooth.

Silver hair with long bangs shows good gray hair care

How Does the Color Turn When We Age?

As part of the body’s oxygen cycle, skin cells produce hydrogen peroxide . Hydrogen peroxide serves to kill bacteria, but as we age it builds up in the body. Researchers in UK found that this buildup causes the hair to turn gray. Some races, such as Caucasians, are more prone to the process. -Today’s Health

Gerald Weissmann, professor of medicine at New York University predicts that soon products to remove hydrogen peroxide from the hair and the body will be developed.

Gray Examples

If you doubted that this color could look glamorous, look at this picture of Meryl Streep to have your doubts washed away.

Women Who Have Gone Gray

Nothing tells the story like a picture can, and the beautiful women whose hair is shiny, gorgeous, and gray are the best illustration for making the point. It isn’t necessary to get beauty from a bottle. The best, most attractive quality is healthiness. Chemicals are bound to be damaging, and they aren’t necessary!

Some Fabulous Women Who Weren’t Afraid of Gray

• Yasmina Rossi
• Maye Musk
• Emmy Lou Harris
• Meryl Streep
• Dame Judi Dench
• Joan Baez
• Susan Hersh
• Kathleen Sebelius
• Ellen Burstyn
• Jamie Lee Curtis
• Helen Mirren

Trendsetting hairstyles show up on the red carpet and in magazines. Take some tips from these celebrities for hair, makeup, and fashions that will look great with grey.

Fresh Looks To Try

What styles look fresh and new with silver locks?

• Try a new bob, updated with layering to give it lift.
• Medium length with fringy bangs.
• Cute short, flipped up ends.
• Bangs are in favor for the classic bob.

Emmy Lou Harris with silver locks

Taking Care of Gray Hair

Some beauty tips are ageless: eat nutritionally valuable foods that have the vitamins, proteins, and the complex carbohydrates you need for good health; use mild and effective products on your skin and hair; and get your circulation going with plenty of exercise.

But there are a few tips that are especially important for gorgeous gray hair. One that is mentioned often is the use of a blue tinted hair product. Another is regular use of an effective hair conditioner- maybe more than one to keep hair soft and shiny. Carefully brushing or combing to prevent split ends and a good haircut doesn’t hurt, either. Healthy hair also means going easy on heat applications through hair curling or straightening.

A Good Cut

I’ve been see-sawing between mid-length hair and trying to grow it out. Like every other color, growing hair longer while trying to keep it looking in shape and stylish is a challenge. I recently cut off the length and had my hair layered. It looks shinier and better groomed, which is important for gray hair care.

A beauty secret to take better advantage of is to have a great cut. Not liking to fuss with hair, a medium length has always worked well for me, but no matter the length we choose, keeping the cut sharp and in shape makes the difference in how good gray hair looks.

Changing Things Up

As you can see from the many products on this page, I like to change things up. It isn’t that I am always looking for something different, but I find that rotating the shampoo and conditioner lines brings better results. On a trip out west I noticed the need for more conditioning, while in my own home state (where high humidity rules) I have more need for serums to smooth my hair.

I think you have to experiment to see what works best for your own look.

The one perennial rule for all of us with gray and silver is well conditioned, healthy hair. And because of all the environmental yellowing, knowing which products will restore a clear tone to the hair is one secret that will work wonders for your style.

Kathi Odum

Try A Different Shampoo

Consider trying a new shampoo made just for white and silver hair to really stand out and make a white hot statement.

A wonderful shampoo with mild ingredients and natural blue flower extract from Centaurea. Klorane is a venerable name in hair products and I have used (happily) their shampoo and conditioners for years. If one wants the tried and true for silver hair, this is a good choice.

Cute Short Cut with bangs and long top layers

One of the Best Shampoos for Gray Hair Styles

Keep your hair silvery with Phyto Purple Shampoo, Gray and White Hair, and its conditioner. Chamomile azulene brightens, while natural coconut oil conditions and cleanses your scalp.

These two results, moisturized hair and a light bluing tint, will give your gray luxurious shimmer which is all you need to look terrific. Phyto products have been my favorites for their quality and how manageable they leave my thick, wavy locks.

Which Shampoo And Conditioner?

Besides the addition of a color corrector which is the best product for our hair? The answer will be directly related to your present condition, desired look, and personal preference.

I like the ingredients to be as natural as possible, but I like some luxury and fragrance,too. Those are qualities that influence my recommendations. If you are sensitive to perfumes, there are products for you that might be different.

Pravana Pure Light  was the top product my readers were buying because of its mild and gentle formula and beautiful results. I know I liked that it was infused with vitamins. There doesn’t seem to be a good replacement, though you might look at this review.

Two more of the best brands are:

• Pravana Pure Light Sulfate-free Brightening Shampoo is a silver hair shampoo, both mild and natural. My readers love it; I think the gray enhancing formula makes such a difference with no concerns about Parabens or other harmful additives. I think it has been discontinued, unfortunately
• Rene Furterer Okara Mild Silver Shampoo with corrective pigments, this product illuminates and revives silvery highlights. It also contains Vitamin B5 and Vitamin E.

The goal of gray hair care is healthy looking hair that has shine and clarity.

Helen Mirren with softly controlled bob, long full bangs. Helen Mirren’s free spirit look in a longer length bob

Helen Mirren’s Style

Always an eye catcher on the Red carpet, her style elicits admiring comments. If you have quandaries on how to make the best of your looks as you age, Helen Mirren is a a role model of continuing to look great.

She changes her style subtly going from soft waves to styles with bangs and sometimes a straight bob, but always with panache.

Mirren always inspires those who wish for stylish gray hair styles ideas.

Helen Mirren lipcolor? Try L’Oreal Paris Colour Riche Le Balm, Pink Satin for a similar look.

Holiday Hairstyles

Updos have been a top choice for formal occasions because they instantly create a well groomed and feminine appearance.

While many women choose shorter hairstyles as they mature, the trend has been for longer lengths. Whether a haircut is short or long, sleek and shiny are two characteristics that give holiday hairdos glamorous fashion.

A Few Ideas For Elegant Polish

Classic French twist with a holiday comb.
Sparkly combs and clips dress up any style.

Polished hair slicked back from the face—Silver Fox to the max for holiday sophistication.

The smoothly rolled bun is a classic good look for the holidays, with or without hair ornaments. Either worn high on the crown or as a chignon, this is a beautiful sophisticated look.

Reporter and mystery novelist

If You Want The Whole Package

There is more to your appearance than just your hair, as important as that is!

As maturity affects skin tone and body shape, some changes must be made, a makeover of wardrobe, colors, and reviving some of the inner glow that is the real source of beauty for any age.

I like the new emphasis on helping older women find their best look.

Get a Makeup Look to Match Gray Hair

There are a few changes to make to your makeup palette to best work with gray hair and matured skin tones.

• Pick brighter shades
• A soft pink or coral blush
• Rose, pink, or coral lip gloss
• Dark brown or black liner

Mature Makeup

Be sure to use a good BB cream for even skin tone, and highlight your eyes. Even if you don’t wear lip color, a good lip balm is a boon.

Katharine Hepburn was a trendsetter who had her own brand of fashion and style that remained to true to her own self.

Maturing Skin

A BB cream is fantastic for an aging complexion. Complement your natural hair with some new makeup to brighten your complexion and lift your mood. Hair color is just one facet of the overall picture.

And most of all, I think I’ve finally gotten the message that beauty emanates from within.

Accept yourself, love your life, celebrate the moments, and you might find that gray hair is more of a silver halo that crowns a life worth living!

My Gray Hair, After 2020

Shine and be all you can be at any age. That has been my motto. during the past two years, it has proven a greater challenge: for me and everybody, it seems.

Because I hadn’t had access to my usual hair salon visits, my hair had grow quite long. And, for me, it created the decision that such lengths are not for me!

If you get ill, you have a natural tendency to lose more hair; and the longer it grows without a cut the more challenging to keep the color from yellowing.

If you are a person with the same challenges as me, the tips on gray hair care with the silver enhancing shampoos will be especially helpful. And when possible, resume haircuts – even if just a trim to keep everything healthy looking and stylish.

Putting some time into our appearance, especially our silver locks, is one of the best antidotes to feeling stressed in our very changed world, in my personal experience.

Love Your Silver Hair?

Silver Fox Shirt
by ilonagarden

• Silver Fox Hair Styles for Medium Texture, Wavy Hair
  I have gray hair and I want to update my style. Here’s a collection of beautiful silver hairstyles I found for all face shapes.

© 2011 Ilona Erwin